The nail-biting third phase of the ongoing Bihar elections starts on Wednesday, October 28. The BJP will fight to save its political fortress, contesting 34 out of the 50 seats while the rest 16 have been given to the allies.
In 2010 the same 50 seats during the time of the JD(U)-BJP coalition were almost neck-to-neck and together won almost all the seats they were contesting. The JD(U) bagged 23 while BJP settled for 20; the rest of the seven seats went to the RJD. Out of the total 43 seats won by the JD(U)-BJP combine, seven were in the Nalanda Assembly constituency, which is a political fortress of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Security Beefed up for Phase 3
Like the first two phases, the third phase will also see heavy security deployment for proper and peaceful polling.
Out of the 50 Assembly seats of Patna, Bhojpur, Nalanda, Buxar, Vaishali and Saran districts, over 10 constituencies are Naxal-affected areas.
Even though the high-risk Naxal areas have been covered in the first two phases, the Election Commission (EC) has left no stone unturned on the security front. Close to 667 companies of para military forces will be deployed out of which 40 companies will be stationed as Quick Response Teams (QRT) at these areas. 47 motor boats will also be deployed to maintain a vigil.
Polling will take place in these 10 Naxal-affected areas only till 4 pm.
Chief Election Commissioner Dr Naseem Zaidi visited Bihar to look after the arrangements of the third phase and conducted a wide survey.
The EC also ordered serious action against those who get caught in distributing liquor and other such anti-social elements.
Unlike the first two phases, we have deployed heavy security arrangements in each of these constituencies and will ensure a safe and peaceful polling.
R Lakhshmanan, Additional Election Officer
The Rich And The Poor
Out of the 165 millionaire (crorepati) candidates contesting for 50 seats in the third phase, 13 have disclosed assets worth over Rs 10 crore each.
Vikram Sharma, an independent candidate from Bikram seat has disclosed assets worth of Rs 928 crore, and another independent candidate from Badh, Dr Kumar Indradev, has disclosed Rs 111-crore assets. BSP’s Akhilesh Kumar, contesting from Bakhtiyarpur, had disclosed assets worth of Rs 61 crore.
Independent candidate from Asthawan, Yugeshwar Manjhi and independent candidate from Fatuha, Kumar Rajiv, have declared no assets at all.
The Dons
215 candidates have criminal backgrounds with 31 facing serious charges like murder and extortion etc.
Anant Kumar Singh, who is contesting as an independent candidate from Mokama and Munna Shukla who is contesting from Lalganj in the Vaishali district feature in this list.
Seats Which Will Go to Polls
- Saran: Ekma, Manjhi, Baniyapur, Tarraiya, Madhuara, Garkha (reserved) Amnaur and Parsa
- Vaishali: Hajipur, Lalganj, Vaishali, Raja Pakar (reserved), Raghopur, Patepur, Mahnaar
- Nalanda: Asthawaan, Bihar Sharif, Rajgir (reserved), Islampur, Hilsa, Nalanda and Harnaut
- Patna: Mokama, Badh, Bakhtiyarpur, Deegha, Bankipur, Kumhraar, Patna Sahib, Fatuha, Danapur, Maner, Fulwari (reserved), Masaudhi (reserved), Paliganj and Bikram
- Bhojpur: Sandesh, Barhara, Arah, Agiyaanv (reserved), Tarari, Jagdishpur and Shahpur
- Buxar: Bramhpur, Buxar, Dumraon, Rajpur (reserved).
The Star Wars
Many seats will see star contestants such as Raghpur where Lalu’s son Tejaswi will contest against BJP’s Satish Kumar; similarly RJD’s Santosh Mehta will battle it out with his political patron and BJP’s chief ministerial aspirant Nand Kishore Yadav at Patna Sahib.
BJP’s senior vetaran Kailash Pati Mishra’s daughter-in-law Dilmano Devi will contest from Bramhpur seat of Buxar as an independent against Vivek Thakur who is son of BJP’s CP Thakur.
Mokama seat in Badh will see a three-way-battle between Anant Kumar Singh, JDU’s spokesperson Neeraj Singh and Kanaihya Singh from the NDA, brother of mafia Suraj Bhan.
The VIPs
BJP’s Nitin Naven who is said to be close to ex-deputy CM Sushil Modi will contest from his Bankipur seat against Kumar Ashish of the grand alliance. Sushil Modi did regular road shows for Nitin.
The six-time MLA from Vaishali and ex-minister in Nitish’s cabinet, Vrishin Patel will contest on a HAM ticket against JD(U)’s Rajkishore Singh.
Badh is again a turf where former Nitish loyalist Gyanendra alias Gyanu will contest with an NDA ticket and will have to deal with Manoj Kumar Singh of the grand alliance.
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